Penn State students will have a chance today to meet the man behind the NCAA.

Myles Brand, President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is in Happy Valley today and tomorrow to meet with students and administrators.

The highlight of his visit will be his lecture, "The Role and Value of Intercollegiate Athletics," at 7 tonight in the HUB Auditorium.

Brand will explore the role of intercollegiate athletics and how they are undervalued in today's society.

Dr. Brand, who became the fourth chief executive officer of the association Jan. 1 of last year, has always been a proponent of academics in college sports.

However, the 62-year-old is more known for the actions he took while at his prior job. Before joining the NCAA, Brand was the president of Indiana University from 1994 through 2002.

During his tenure in Bloomington, Brand became known to students, media and sports fans across the country for first implementing a zero-tolerance policy directed at Indiana men's basketball coach Bobby Knight.

In September of 2000, Brand fired the "General" and his infamous red sweater after Brand claimed Knight broke the agreement the two had reached.

Later that day, about 3,000 Indiana students marched in the streets, chanting, "Hey, hey, ho, ho. Myles Brand has got to go,"

Following the firing of one of the most famous college coaches in basketball, a media frenzy across the country ensued.

Brand stayed at Indiana University for only a short time before becoming president of the NCAA.

Brand's speech tonight will include a question and answer session following his lecture.

Brand's wife Peg, an assistant professor at Indiana, has joined him on his trip to Penn State.

She will lecture this afternoon at 3 p.m. in the Foster Auditorium in 101 Pattee Library. Her speech is called "Beauty Below the Surface: Artistic Intentions."